Hotel establishments in the UAE have launched special Eid al-Fitr packages for residents, requiring early booking to avail discounts of up to 20%. Hospitality and tourism industry managers report that strong demand reduces the need for further offers and more competitive prices during the Eid holiday, noting that hotels may not feel compelled to introduce more room rate promotions to attract guests due to already high occupancy levels.
Special Packages In detail, hotels in Dubai have begun offering special Eid al-Fitr stay packages for UAE residents, based on the principle of early booking to secure discounts of up to 20% on the best rates. The new offers include discounts ranging from 10% to 20% on the best available rates, along with additional benefits extending to comprehensive hospitality experiences. Some offers provide specific discounts for children in restaurants, as well as special celebration programs for children during the Eid days. The bulk of the announced offers so far are concentrated in hotel groups, particularly beach resorts targeting families first, while some city hotels have offered discounts on available rates at the time of booking.
The packages are not limited to accommodation only but include additional benefits such as discounts on spa treatments, in-hotel dining experiences, and greater flexibility in check-in and check-out times through early check-in and late check-out options.
These offers primarily target UAE residents, who will be required to present a valid UAE ID card to benefit from promotional rates. Some offers also include discounts in in-hotel restaurants, excluding room service. All prices are subject to applicable taxes and service fees, in line with the emirate's hotel pricing policies.
Other hotels have gone beyond traditional accommodation by offering all-inclusive packages that include meals, children's recreational activities, access to private beaches, and "longer stays for less" deals that provide additional discounts when booking two nights or more.
Some other hotel establishments are offering spending credits that can be used within the hotel at restaurants or Dubai's recreational facilities, along with earning rewards and loyalty points for every amount spent.
The Holiday Season Amin Al-Awaidi, General Manager of Al-Awaidi Travel, stated, "Hotels have introduced some offers on accommodation services, including specific percentage discounts during the Eid al-Fitr holiday." He noted that "the hotel market is recording strong performance levels during Ramadan, and therefore we see that the limited number of offers reflects already high occupancy rates, which are expected to increase at higher rates during the holiday." Al-Awaidi added that "most of these offers are subject to availability, meaning they may be exhausted in a short period if there is high demand, and thus benefiting from them requires early booking or a sufficient period before the holiday." He explained that this step reflects a shift in hotel marketing towards anticipating demand and securing sufficient bookings well in advance of the holiday.
Al-Awaidi clarified that the offers reflect a trend in the hotel sector towards securing early bookings and reducing reliance on last-minute bookings during peak periods, a move aimed at stimulating advance demand and increasing occupancy rates before the peak season.
A Strong Season Hosny Abdelhadi, CEO of Carlton Hotels, confirmed that "Dubai's hotel sector is currently experiencing one of its strongest operational seasons, driven by the increase in international tourist demand and the continued momentum that distinguishes the emirate in the first months of the year." He affirmed that occupancy levels during the month of Ramadan exceeded expectations in most hotel establishments.
He clarified that "most hotels in Dubai are currently operating at high occupancy rates, which are considered elevated." Abdelhadi added that preliminary booking indicators confirm that demand will continue to rise as the Eid holiday approaches, as hotels are recording strong advance bookings from both international markets and regional visitors, which enhances expectations of achieving high occupancy rates during the holiday without the need for heavy promotional campaigns or large price discounts.
He pointed out that during the holiday, hotels may not find it necessary to launch more offers to attract guests, as happened in some previous seasons, explaining that "high demand naturally reduces the need for discounts, as many establishments have already started achieving advanced booking levels a sufficient period before the holiday." He said, "The current offers focus more on adding value to the experience, such as accommodation benefits and additional services, rather than directly reducing prices."
Abdelhadi confirmed that "Dubai is currently experiencing a strong tourist season, supported by an increase in tourist inflow from international markets." He noted that the rise in demand gives hotels more flexibility in pricing, expecting the upward trend in prices to continue as Eid al-Fitr approaches, especially given the limited availability of rooms compared to the expected volume of demand.
He explained that the relationship between supply and demand in the market currently clearly favors demand, meaning that prices will continue to rise gradually during the holiday period, supported by early bookings and continuous tourist flows. Abdelhadi also noted that the strength of the current season reflects Dubai's growing position as a world-class tourist destination capable of maintaining its momentum year-round, not just during traditional seasons. He pointed out that the developed tourism infrastructure, diversity of the hotel product, and ease of air access have all contributed to enhancing the hotel sector's performance even in periods previously considered off-peak.
The Hotel Sector Wael Bahi, General Manager of Copthorne Dubai, in turn, stated that "Dubai's hotel sector is currently witnessing strong demand levels driven by a combination of seasonal and tourist factors." He noted that the operational performance of the hospitality sector reflects the positive momentum the market is experiencing during this time of year.
Bahi added that "occupancy rates in the hotel reached around 85% in February, which are high levels reflecting the strength of tourist demand." He pointed out that the tourist season during this period of the year plays a significant role in boosting visitor inflow, especially from international markets.
He clarified that current indicators of future bookings show the continuation of strong performance in March, with expectations of maintaining high occupancy rates, supported by advance bookings and active travel to the emirate. He confirmed that "Dubai's tourism market is currently going through a clear phase of activity compared to the same periods in previous years."
Regarding the Eid al-Fitr season, Bahi indicated that prices during the holiday will be higher compared to the month of Ramadan, which is natural given the rise in demand and increased travel and short stays during official holidays.
He added that hotels this year are not relying on large discounts to attract guests, as there is already strong demand, which reduces the need for intensive promotional campaigns. Bahi confirmed that the current discounts remain limited, noting that prices in the market are still competitive but are likely to rise gradually as the holiday approaches due to increased demand and the continued strength of bookings.
These offers allow for the benefit of discounts provided that booking is made in advance, as these prices remain subject to availability at the time of booking, which emphasizes the importance of early planning for those wishing to benefit from the offers before prices rise as the holiday approaches.
